The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
hand-to-hand \hand-to-hand\ adj. close to one's adversary; -- of combat; as, hand-to-hand fighting. Syn: at close quarters(predicate). [WordNet 1.5]WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
hand-to-hand adj 1: being at close quarters; "hand-to-hand fighting"